Show someone you care by making a clay bead necklace or bracelet. This craft is a perfect fit for Valentine's Day, but also makes a unique gift year 'round.

What you'll need:

How to make it:

Make Your Own Beads

Make your own beads using Fimo or Sculpey polymer clay. The clay comes in many colors, and has to be baked to harden. You can free-form your own heart shapes, or use cookie cutters or candy molds. Be sure to poke a hole through the bead with a toothpick before you bake it. Gently wiggle the toothpick around and make sure the hole is big enough for the cord or elastic you'll be using to make the necklace. Place the hole closer to the top of the bead, so that it will hang right-side up.

Be sure to get an adult's help when using the oven!

Use Pony Beads

Pony beads are now available in two sizes, and are also available in custom shapes, like hearts and butterflies. Combine red, pink, and white beads for some Valentines fun. You can also combine pre-made beads with your own custom beads.

 

Pony beads can be strung on elastic cord to make easy bracelets or necklaces - just be sure the necklaces are not tight on the neck!

Making Friends has a friendship bracelet pattern that could be adapted for Valentine's Day. Use a red or white ribbon or cord, give the white daisy a red or pink center, and put heart-shaped pony beads or red, white or pink beads where the leaves go.

Heart and Pearls

Some bead or craft stores have hearts made from either rose quart or amethyst. Use four of them for a necklace and/or two of them for a bracelet, combined with pearly looking beads and some accent beads of your choice for a very special piece of dressy jewelry. Place the four hearts towards the front of the necklace, and repeat the pearl and accent bead pattern for the back half. You can also combine special beads you make with pearly and other beads.

 

Tips:

Lay your beads out in a pattern and experiment until you get a design you like. Lay the beads on a towel to prevent them from rolling away.